Chassis-frame construction



Feb.14',192s. 1,659,018

J. H. CLARK cHAssIs FRAME CoNsTRUcgrmN Feb. 14, 1928.

J. H. ca /BKl CHASSIS vIFR-AME! CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 14. 1926 Dour-YI Feb. 14, 1928.

J. H. CLARK CHASSIS", FRAME CONSTRUCTION Filed June 14; 192s 4 sheets-sheet 3 LWENTOR. @7776s /X-CZQf/ I L I E Y l A TTORNE Y Feb. 14, 1928.

1 l J. H. cpp-.ARK

CHASSIS FRAME-QLONSTRUCTION Filed June 14. 1926 4 sham-sheet 4 1A Vm TOR ..1 TTORNEYS' Patented Feb. 1'4, 1928.

UNITED STATESy JAMES EI, CLARK, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T BRIGGS MANUFACTURING:

yCOMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGACQ','A CORPORATION'OF MICHIGAN.

CHASSIS-FRAME CONSTRUCTION..k

Application filed June 14,1926.v Serial No.` 115,981.

The invention relates to a trame construe. tion and more particularly to a combination chassis and sillV construction wherein "the same traine structure constitutes both the chassis and body sills.

The invention has therefore as one of its objects to eliminate the body sill and to ein-- ploy in its place asingular member constituting both the body sillandthe chassis side raill whereby a more, economical and` otherwise satisfactory structure troni a commercial standpoint may be obtained.

Another object of the invention is to pro-AV vide a chassis or iframe construction involving main and supplemental or auxiliary sill or rail members and to forni the supplemental or auxiliary rail members in units including. two substantially longitudinally arranged side rails with sepaiate end units connected thereto and to the main rail members for reinforcing the latter and for adding rigidity to the completed structure.

Another object o1 the invention resides in providing a 'construction wherein it is possibleto ruse relatively light 'gaugefnon load-supporting[wheel housings, the main and the supplemental trame members being shaped to clear the wheels and to support the load at this point.

Another object and advantage the invention is obtained byforming the rearV portions ot' the main side rails separate from the remaining structure so that they may be reversed with the channels thereof presented outwardly to providea greater or. increased width between these rea-ry side rails whereby the springs may be suspended on the inside ot the Vframe. Y Y

Numerous other objects, advantages and novel details ofy construction will beniade more apparent as this description proceeds,

especially when considered connect-ion' with the accompanying drawings wherein; Figure 1u is avplan view ot the front half cita chassis or trame constructionjin accordance with this invention. v. i

^ Figurek lb is a plan view of the rear, half of a chassis or frame constructionin accord ance with this invention.

"Figure 2 is a side elevation of the struc? ture illustrated in Figure 1. l Y c Figure 3 is a rear `end elevation'ot' the structure illustrated in Figure 1. Y

Figure 4 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional viewftalrensubstantially on the plane indicatedy byline 11-4 in Figure 1 and Figure is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the plane' indicated by the line 5`5 in Figure 1.

Referring now particularly to the` drawf ings wherein like characters indicate like parts it will be noted that the frame consists essentially of a main frame and a supplemental or auxiliary frame 11 extending sub- PATENT OFFICE wardly, a pair of therails 12 and 13 confr stituting togethery la `mainside railQor sill and being` spliced together as indicated 'at 14.I By reversing the position of the channels ot the krear rail sections 13 a greater Width between `these rails is obtained for suspending the springs indicated in dotted li-nesat S. TheA main sills or side rails are united adjacent their forward ends by means of cross members 15 two of such cross members being as shown in the illustrative embodiment-of the invention, which construction lends itself admirably to supporting the motor`r of the vehicle (not shown). A fur ther cross member 16 is provided which also extends into the vchannels of ythe rail mem# n bers 12, being riveted or wotherwise fastened to these rails and further united thereto as for instance by means ofk gusset plates 17.

The supplementalfor auxiliary :trame 11 consist-s essentially yof five units including a pair of substantiallylongitudinally extending rails 18 yprovided with extensions 18', an outer lfront end rail `19, andv arear; end rail 2O and a pair of subcr extension rail Vmembers A21. The` vfront endsjrail 19 is substantially U-shaped `plan kview and is united, as by* meansyofsplicing indicated at 22 to the sub or extension rails 21. The front endorailk 19 is shaped to extend under and clear the forward ends of the main side rails 12 and is suspended and supported therefrom by means of gusset members 23 which are substantially l shaped in cross section and which are further shaped to provide end flanges 24 secured respectively to the tops of the rails 12 and 19 and with lateral flanges 25 which engage the vertical sides or bases of these rails, seeparticularly Figures 1 and 2. The forward end rail 19 is connected adjacent its ends to the main rails 12 by means of supplemental cross members 2Swhich preferably extend angula'rly'and rearwardly, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The sub or extension rails 21 are'yconnected' to the main rails 12 by means of l"cross frame members 27. It will be noticed, from Figure'l, that the rearv ends of the extension rails 21 overlapr or extend be youd the forward ends of the rails 18 but that these 'adjacent ends are laterally spaced.

yThe lsupplemental longitudinal side rails 18 are connected to the main side rails by a' plurality lof auxiliary cross members 23, arranged in longitudinal spaced relation to one' another. inasmuch the'supplcmental rails 18 are arranged in a plane below the Y main side rails, the cross members'connecting these parts must'be of a shape substantially similar to that Aillustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. Obviously the customary gusset plates 29 will be associated with the cross i members 28 to insure the desired rigidity of the connection between the parts.

The rear'end rail members 20 is also substantially U-shaped in planview and ov laps the extensions 18 of the rails 13 and is secured `thereto as indicated at 30. It should be noted, in passing, that the rails 1S adjacent their ends are bent outwardly Vfrom the general longitudinal plane. thereof so as to provide-a greater clearance space between the vmain and supplemental rails at this point. Accordingly the'ends ofthe rear end rail member 2O are also bent outwardly at their ends so as to place these ends in alignment for proper connection with the ends of the rails 1S. Cross members 31 connect the, rear end rail member 2O to the main raily members 13 adjacent to rear ends of the latter, 'these main rail members being also connected to a transverse frame member which extends laterally beyond these rail ymembers and is connected as at 33 to the rear it is connected. The upward curve of the extension rail 18 is suiiicient in height to clear 'the adjacent axle and wheel and this rail constitutes a vpart of the. wheel housing. The adjacent portion of the lcorresjionding main side rail 13 is also formed with an upwardly directed curved portion and the lower flange of the rail throughout this curved portion is bent downwardly as indicated at 37, see particular-ly Figures 2 and A thin metallic covering 3S rests upon the inwardly directedvflanges at the upper edges of the curved portions of the rails 18 and 13 to complete the wheel housing'. lt is obvious, how ever, that the covering 38 is of a protective character only anddoes Vnot support any load, the load being taken up entirely by the frame members.

The reference character 39 indicates a tubular transversally arranged torsional Amember which extends from one side of the chassis frame to the other, being rigidly con* nected at its ends as at 40 to the overlapping portions of the rails 1S and 20. In view of the fact that the rails constituting the supplemental or auxiliary frame. are arranged below the plane of the main frame the tubular torsional member 39 may extend directly across the chassis frame without any portions thereof being olf-set. For connecting the torsional member to the rails 13 of the main frame, there provided brackets 41 which (lepend from the rails 13 and are provided with vflanged apertures 42 through which this torsional member extends. `'l`hus 'the torsional member isk rigidly connected' at its ends to the auxiliary or supplemental frame and intermediate its ends to the main frame.

Extending transversally ofthe rail me1nbers 12 and below the plane thereof is a tubular torsional member 43. This tubular member is rigidly connected to the rail members 12 by means of brackets 44 which are secured to said rails and depend downwardly therefrom. These brackets are provided with flanged apertures 45 through which the tubular member 43 extends, the ends of this member beingprovided with coupling sleeves 46 formed with a circumferential radially extending` flange 4T. The reference character 48 indicates a pair of co-extensive tubular torsional membersformed preferably in two sections or halves longitudinally united and with a circumferentially radially directed flange 49 at one end which is connected to thev flange 47 aforedescribed and at this other end with a radial flange 50 which abuts the base of the channel-shaped rail 18. The space between the overlapping ends of the rail members 18 and 21 is spanned by a torsional member 51 also preferably formed in two sections or halves and formed with radially extending langesr52 and 53 at the ends thereof. The flange 52 is arranged in axial alignment with the flange 50 but bears lll against the other tace of the base of the rail 18 whereupon these vparts may besecured together by Welding or by rivets as desired. The outer end of the tubular member 5l. is secured by its Bange 53 to the end oit the rail 2l. Thus it vwill be seen that a continuous transverse tubular torsional member is provided which extends from the rail member 21 on one 'side of the 'chassis trame tothe corresponding member ony the other side,l this torsional member being formed of a centerl section 43 united at its ends with extension sections 4S which in turn are connected to the extensions 51 whereby the rails 21, 1S and l2'at both sides ot the chassis frame are rigidly interconnected.

Byreason otl the transversely arranged torsional members, the Jfront aiidijeai end rails and the connection between these parts and the main rail members a structure oft great rigidity is obtained and Vone which is fully capable of withstanding weaving strains and stresses and other disastrous loads imposed upon` the chassis frame. The longitudinally spaced supplemental Atrame cross members extending between the main and supplemental frames also function to i increase the rigidity and strength of the coinpleted structure'.

By reversing the rear main side rail sec tions 13 greater clearance is provided between these rails and sufficient. space is left to ,mount the springs.` Furthermore by the construction herein described a suliicient clearance is also `provided between the main and supplemental rail members near the rear end thereof, to accommodate the wheels it being understood that the main and supple-y mental side rails are substantially continuous from the front to the rear of the chassis and are curved upwardlyto clear the rear axle and wheels so as to take the load at this point and to make, it possible to employ relatively thin wheel housings which carry no load whatsoever.

lhile one embodiment oil the invention has been described and illustrated herein somewhat in detail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in thisart that the principles of this invention are capable of Aexpression in various forms wherein details of construction other than those herein shown are employed and accordingly reservation is made to make such changes in the essential and all of the non-essential details as may come within the purview of the'accompanying claiins. i

What I claim as my invention is: y i

l. In a trame construction, inner and outer trame members anda transverse extension on said outei' frame 'member connecting the y saine at the front ends thereof and extending under said inner frame members in the same horizontal plane as the said outer frame member.

members andl'co'nnected to said inner frame iiienibers" and rext endi u g thereunder.

8. in a frame construction, inner and outer longitudinal sill members anda substantially U-sliapcd member connected to the ends of said outer longitudinal sill `members and ex tending forwardly therefrom under said inner longitudinal sill members. y el. In ra vframe construction, a. pair` of spaced longitudinal inner mainsill members,

a pair ot substantially parallel auxiliary outer sill members lying in a plane below that vof the main frame members and a straight 'tubular torsional cross member extending between saidk auxiliary sill members and dependingbrackets on said main sill members connecting` the saine to said cross members. y y l y `ln a iframe construction, spaced main and auxiliary traine members eachliaviiig a corresponding portion thereof shaped to provide .a wheel housing. i

G. ln a frame construction, spaced rmain and auxiliary trame members eachr having a corresponding portionthereot shaped to provide .fr-wheel housing trame and a covering secured to said iframe. I 7. In a trame construction, a pair o spaced*longitudinally extending main' and auxiliary sills, said sills having corresponding portions thereof off-set upwardly and a wheel housing cover supported on said ot`fset portions. Y

8.n In a frame construction, a pair of spaced longitudinally extending main and auxiliary sills, said sills having corresponding portions thereot1 oit-set upwardly and laterally and a wheel housing cover supported on said ott-set portions. 9. In a traine construction, a pair of spaced longitudinally `extending main sillV members, a pair of substantially parallel auxiliary sill members spaced from said main sill members, each pair of main and auxiliary sill members having corresponding portions thereof upwardly and laterally oifset intermediate their lengths to provide a wheel clearance and a wheel housing covery of relatively light gauge material secured to said off-set portions. l y i l0.k In a trame construction, an inner main Atrame* member, an outer auxiliary frame member arranged in a relatively lower plane .than said inner trame member, a tubular torsional member extending from one side of said outer frame member to the other below the plane of said inner frame member and` gusset members connecting said inner frame members to said tubular member.

l1. In a frame construction, an inner main frame member, an outer auxiliary iframe member spaced from said inner frame member at the front, back and sides thereof, and

` having its front portion extending beneath member, the tro-nt portion ot said auxiliary frame member passingl rnder said inner frame member and secured thereto.

, 18. In a frame construction, an inner main frame member, an outer auxiliary frame member spaced from said inner frame member and being in a plane lower than that of the inner frame member, the iront portion of said auxiliary frame member passing' under said inner frame member and secured thereto. Y

14e. In a frame construction, a pair of spaced longitudinal main sill members, a pair of substantially parallel auxiliary sill members, a straight tubular cross member extending between said auxiliary sill members and depending` brackets on said main sill member connecting the same to the cross member, said cross member consisiting of a central unit having .its ends formed into radially extending- Iianges, and outer units having corresponding radially extending lianges at tliir inner ends secured to said first mentioned flanges and having flanges at their outer ends secured to said auxiliary sill members. A

15. In a frame construction, a pair of spaced longitudinal main sill members, a pair of outer substantially parallel side auxiliary sill members terminating short of said main sill members, a front auxiliary sill member having rearwardly extending portions spaced from and overlapping said side auxiliary sill members, a cross member secured to said main silll members and having` its ends secured to said side auxiliary'sill members, and torsional members substantially co-planar with said'cross members and secured to the overlapping` portions of said side and iront auxiliary sill members.

16. In a frame constructiom-apair of spaced longitudinal main sill members, a pair of outer substantially parallel side auxiliary sill members terminating short of said mainV 55 sill members, a front auxiliary sill member having rearwardly extending portions spaced from and overlapping said side auxiliary sill members, a cross member secured to said main sill members and having its ends secured to said side auxiliary sill members, and torsional members substantially coplanar with said cross members and having` theirl end portions provided with radially extending langesseoured to the overlapping` portions of said side and front auxiliary sill members.

In testimony whereof I ahx my signature.

Jill/IES H. CLARK. 

